Avoid these mistakes when you register for your .com.au domain

What's in a name? Many things. Your domain name is the foundation of your online identity, it's part of your brand. When choosing a domain name there are a few mistakes business owners often make to compromise their business' visibility. Here are 5 common mistakes to avoid when selecting a .com.au domain name.

Selecting long domain names that are difficult to remember

Long domain names make it difficult for your customers to find you. Just like a product, brand name or a service, you’ll want your domain name to be easy to remember. According to Moz, domain names should be around 15 characters in length.

Tip: To make your domain name as memorable as possible, leave numbers out. For example, if you're considering 2plumbers.com as a domain name your customer may get confused between 2plumbers.com and twoplumbers.com (which could potentially drive them to another business).

Using hyphens because your domain is already taken

It can be disappointing to know that your preferred domain name is already taken. A common mistake people make in this instance is to create a variation of their ideal domain name with a hyphen i.e. if Jensprettyflowers.com was taken, they would register Jens-pretty-flowers.com instead. While this tactic helps you stay on brand, it might make it difficult for your customers to remember.

Forgetting about your social media presence

If you’re looking to register a .com.au name, it’s likely that you’ll want to create an online presence across social media as well. Consider the naming conventions on your existing social media accounts, are they consistent with your domain name? If a customer wanted to find your website and social media accounts, would it be easy? You’ll want to ensure your domain name matches your social media accounts. If your brand name is already taken on social media, you may need to consider another domain name.

Neglecting to think long term

Where do you see your business in 5-10 years? Will you be expanding your business to service customers overseas? If so you’ll need a .com extension. Businesses may start off thinking they only need a .com.au domain but when they go to expand their offering globally, they’ll find that the .com extension is already taken. If you want to own your domain name worldwide, consider other domain extensions i.e. .com, .net, .org.

Overlooking trademarks

You may have a catchy domain name in mind but even if it’s available, it may be protected by trademark(s). A trademark infringement could cost your business an unexpected and hefty find. Before you register your domain, do your due diligence and visit IP Australia to ensure your name isn’t already taken.

Note: According to auDA’s regulations, .com.au or net.au domains are only available to Australian sole traders, businesses or companies. You will need an ABN before you can register your .com.au domain.